Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says club president Josep Maria Bartomeu was left “pissed off” by Antoine Griezmann’s decision to stay at Atletico Madrid

Gerard Pique also defended his involvement in the documentary which saw Griezmann confirm he was staying at Atletico Madrid on Thursday. Pique’s company Kosmos Studios produced the documentary — titled “The Decision” in a nod to Lebron James’ 2010 ESPN television special of the same name — which charted the past few months of Griezmann’s life as he decided what to do next season.

“I spoke with Bartomeu [on Friday] morning, he called me, everything is fine,” he added. “He’s pissed off because he wanted Antoine Griezmann to sign and thought he would end up coming.

“But Barca are much bigger than one player. If one player doesn’t want to come, he will have his reasons, be that sporting or financial, but there are others that will come.”

Pique has hit back at suggestions that his involvement in the documentary displayed a lack of respect towards his club.

However, Pique says he’s been shocked by some of the reviews and explained that he, too, only found out on Thursday that Griezmann was staying at Atletico.

“It’s surprising to hear doubts about my commitment towards the club,” Pique told reporters after Spain’s 3-3 draw with Portugal at the World Cup on Friday.

“Obviously, at the end of the day, it’s one of my companies, but that’s it. Griezmann told me months ago there was the chance he could come to [Barca] and he didn’t know what to do. I proposed the documentary and my team got to work.

“We thought it was a good idea, a way to show people how these important decisions are made. From there, I completely disconnected myself from it, obviously.”